Zero printing control for data printers

ABSTRACT

A data printer comprising denominationally arranged settable main type carriers and separate zero type carriers movable relative to the main type carriers. A sensing slide is yieldably movable across the main type carriers until arrested by the type carrier which has been set to represent the highermost significant digit to be printed. During such movement, the sensing slide cams the corresponding zero type carriers to locate their nonsignificant zero type characters out of alignment with the printing line.

[451 Apr. s, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Clary i 1 ZERO PRINTING CONTROL FOR DATA PRINTERS Inventor:

X 8 w 0 6 l .5. 1 RI- 3.544.Ut)(] Bohio..n........i,.....

Hugh L. Clary. 2340 Robles A\'e.. San Martino Calif. 91108 [22] Filed: Nov. 9, [973 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner- Edward M. Coven Anurnqr, Agni! or Firm-Fred N. Schwend Appl. No.: 414,386

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser.

1973. abandoned [57] ABSTRACT A data printer comprising denominationally arranged No. 395.928. Sept. 10.

settable main type carriers and separate zero type carriers movable relative to the main type carriers. A sensing slide is yieldably movable across the main type carriers until arrested by the type carrier which has been set to represent the highermost significant digit to be printed. During such movement. the sensing References cued slide earns the corresponding zero type carriers to 10- UNITED STATES PATENTS cute their nonsignificant zero type characters out of alignment with the printing line.

Hit/100 Nil/93 R 0mm..v................. 235/6028 x 11 Claims ll Drawing Flgum Clary et 111.

C 446 666 999 NH SU- 7-69 0044 554 2 0 3 5.6 333 PMENTEUAPR 8 [ms 1 ZERO PRINTING CONTROL FOR DATA PRINTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of copend ing patent application. Ser. No. 395.928. filed Sept. I0. 1973 and entitled "Zero Printing Control for Data Printers," and since abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to data printers for adding machines or the like and has particular reference to means for controlling the printing of zeros so that the nonsignificant zeros located to the left of the highermost sig nificant digit will not be printed while the significant zeros located to the right will be printed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In certain known adding machines. as disclosed and claimed. for example. in the Clary et al. LRS. Pat. no. 3.l32.582. issued on May 12. 1964. an impact type printer is provided in which a single. relatively light sensing slide is yieldably moved across a series of denominationally arranged type carriers from the highermost denominational order toward the lowermost until the slide is arrested by the first type carrier which has been displaced to represent the highermost significant digit to be printed. The slide. in this case. blocks those impact hammers associated with the nonsignificant zeros from printing.

Although the above zero printing control mechanism is simple and satisfactory. printers of the impact or hammer type have been found to be noisy and require more parts than printers of the squeeze type wherein a single printing platen is actuated to force the paper into printing contact with the type carriers along a printing line.

Attempts have been made heretofore to incorporate a sensing slide of the above type in a squeeze printer. The US. Patent to Capellaro et al.. US. Pat. No. 3,450,042, issued on June 17. 1969. discloses such a printer. However. in this case. the yieldably driven sensing slide must move the entire type carriers toward and away from positions to be engaged by the printing platen. Further. such slide must support the type carriers against the relatively heavy printing pressures exerted by the printing platen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention. a squeeze type printer is provided utilizing a relatively light zero control sensing slide which does not have to resist the relatively heavy printingpressure exerted by the platen. In this case. denominationally arranged separate and relatively light zero type carriers are provided which cooperate with the main type carriers carrying the digit types ranging from one to nine. When the sensing slide is yieldably moved across the printer to sense the main type carrier which has been set to present the highermost significant digit to be printed, it displaces those zero type carriers located to the left of the highermost significant digit sufficiently to remove their zero type characters from the printing line so that no printing will occur in such highermost orders. Accordingly, the zero type carriers and the sensing slide may be made extremely light to enable a higher operating speed and a reduction in noise. Also. higher printing pressures may be used without introducing undue strain on the sensing slide and its drive mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a transverse sectional view to a portion of an adding machine embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating part ofthe drive mechanism for the printer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. I. illustrating the sector sensing slide.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view. similar to FIG. I, but with parts broken away. illustrating the Zero type sector in its ineffective position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4, illustrating two of the type sectors and their associated zero type sectors. the latter being shown in alternate positions.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4. illustrating the main type sector and its associated zero type sector in normal 0"' printing position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8. illustrating the main FIG. 1] is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention. the machine in which the invention is embodied is a well known and commercially available ADD- MASTER adding machine which is disclosed basically in the R. E. Busch U.S. Pat. No. 3.l l3.7l-). issued on Dec. 10. I963. the H. L. Clary et al. US Pat. No. 3.132.582. issued on May 12. I964 and the J. G. Clary US. Pat. No. 3.621.777. issued on Nov. 23. 1971. Such patents are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Reference may be had to such patents for disclosure of operating instrumentalities of the machine not shown herein.

Different functions of the machine. such as addition and subtraction operations, are effected by depressing certain function control keys (not shown). each effective to cause a cycle of operation of the machine. during which time a main shaft 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2] is rotated clockwise through one complete revolution.

Amounts are entered into the machine through ten amount keys (not shown) ranging in value from zero to nine. The amount keys are effective to set corresponding ones of a column of stop pins 1] carried by a pin carriage 12, there being a plurality of such columns arranged side-by-side on the carriage in well known manner. Upon depression of an amount key to set a corresponding stop pin 11, the carriage 12 is yieldably advanced transversely of the machine along a guide rod 13 and guide channel 14 to locate the set stop pin in position to be engaged by a shoulder 15 on a main type carrier or printing sector 16, there being a plurality of such sectors independently and pivotally mounted in spaced relation on a support shaft 17. Such sectors also form differential actuators for an accumulator generally indicated at 19.

As each amount key is depressed. the pin carriage is stepped leftward (as viewed in FIG. 3) to cooperate with successively higher denominationally arranged ones of the sectors 16.

A cam 18 (FIG. 2) carried by the main shaft is effective to oscillate a cam follower gear sector 20 about a pivot support 21 to likewise oscillate a gear sector 22 and a pinion 23 carrying a cable pulley 24. A bail rod 25 carried by arms 26 fastened to shaft 17 extends through openings 27 in the type sectors 16 and friction ally engages spring tails 28 integral with the sectors whereby to yieldably drive the sectors clockwise from their normal home positions shown in FIG. 1.

Each type sector 16 is preferably formed of plastic and has a somewhat flexible arcuate type section 30 supported through flexible end sections 31. Type charactcrs 33 ranging in value from one to nine are spaced along the length of each type section 30.

Each type sector 16 has a hub 34 extending from its left hand side on which is pivotally mounted a light plastic zero type sector or arm 35 4 FIG. 10) extending along the side of the sector 16. A hub 39 on the right hand side of each sector 16 serves to maintain the arm 35 on the right of such sector in place on its hub 34. A relatively flexible arcuate section 36 integral with the arm 35 terminates in a base 37 on which a zero type character 38 is formed. As will be noted in FIGS. 4 and 5. the Zero type character is aligned with the digit type characters 33 and a cut-out portion 40 is formed in each type sector 16, permitting relative movement of the Zero type arm 35 between the two alternate positions shown in FIG. 5.

Normally, when the machine is at rest. as illustrated in FIG. I. a spring tail 4] integral with the sector 16 extends into an opening 42 in the sector and yieldably holds the zero type arm 35 in its position shown in FIG. I and as shown at the right in FIG. 5, relative to the sector 16, wherein the zero type character 38 is located at a printing line 39 directly below an elastomeric printing platen 43.

A paper strip 44 is guided through a guide chute 45 and over a printing ribbon extending along the printing line. The leading edge of the strip 44 is deflected upwardly by a concave guide surface 46 formed on a paper tear-off member 47.

For the purpose of causing an imprint between the type characters 33 or 38 located along the printing line 39 and the paper strip 44, the platen 43 is mounted on a rod 48 which is guided for movement radially of the sectors 16 in slots 50 formed in side frame plates, Le, 51 and 52. A toggle bail 53 is pivotally supported at 54 and is pivotally connected at 55 to toggle links 56 carrying the rod 48. Bail 53 is also connected by a link 57 to a cam follower lever 58 which is fulcrumed at 60 and is held in engagement with a printing cam 61 on the main shaft 10 by a tension spring 62. During a printing phase of a machine cycle, the cam 61 causes the platen 43 to be momentarily moved downwardly from its full line position shown in FIG. 4 to its imprinting position shown by the dot-dash lines.

Means are provided to properly align different ones of the type characters 33 and/or 38 at the printing line 39 during each printing phase and to force the yieldable type sections 30 and 36 radially outward a slight amount so that all of the type characters at the printing line will be held at an exact height to insure an even imprint from all of the type characters even if there may be inaccuracies in radial dimensions of the type sectors 16 and type arms 35 due to shaft clearances. tolerances. etc. For this purpose, an aligner bar 63 extends along the length of the printing line 39 and through openings 64 in the sectors 16. The bar 63 is engageable with centering notches 65 formed in the type sections 30 and notches 66 formed in the zero type arms 35. The bar 63 is slidably mounted in slots 67 (FIG. 2) formed in the side frame plates 51 and 52 but is normally held in a radially inwardly located position by spring members, one of which is shown at 68, extending between the bar and the adjacent side frame plate.

During a machine cycle and after the sectors 16 have been differentially advanced clockwise, camming noses 70 on the arms 26 engage the opposite ends of the bar 63 to force the same radially outwardly to engage in aligned ones of the notches 65 and 66 thus slightly flexing the type sections 30 and 36 outwardly.

Means are provided to sense the particular type seetor 16 which has been set clockwise of its home position to represent the highermost significant digit in the amount to be printed and to rock all highermost order zero type arms 35 to the left thereof into ineffective positions. For this purpose. a U-shaped sensing slide 71 (FIG. 3) is slidably mounted for endwise movement in slide bearings formed in the side frame plates 51 and 52 and is normally urged to the left to its full line position shown in FIG. 3 by a tension spring 169 extending between the right hand end of the slide and the frame plate 51. The slide 71 is yieldably moved to the right during each machine cycle and after clockwise movement ofthe sectors 16 has been initiated. For this purpose a cable 72 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is wrapped around the cable pulley 24 and extends around a cable guide 73, the opposite end being connected to a tension spring 74 which is anchored at 79 to the left hand end of the slide 71 and which has greater strength than spring 169.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, the upper edge 75 of the opening 42 in each of the sectors 16 lies directly adja cent the plane of the lower leg 69 of slide 71 when the sector is in its home or zero position, permitting the slide to pass through such sectors only when the latter are in their home or zero positions. If a sector has been moved to a digital position other than zero (as seen in FIG. 9 wherein the sector is in a l position) it will arrest rightward movement of the slide.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the slide 71 has a camming surface 76 which is engageable with the zero type arms 35 to cam the same from their zero printing positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 to their ineffective positions shown in FIG. 4 as the slide passes through the openings 42 in the associated sectors 16.

As will be noted in FIGS. 6 and 11, each zero type arm 35 has an offset section 80 located within the opening 42 of its associated sector 16 so that the portion of the left hand surface 82 (as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 11) of the arm 35 which is in the path of the camming surface 76 of slide 71, lies in the plane of the left hand surface 83 of the associated sector 16. Thus, the camming surface 76 becomes effective to cam the zero type arm 35 toward its non-printing position shown in FIG. 4, approximately as the slide 71 enters the opening 42 of the associated slide. The dot-dash line 76a of FIG. 11 shows the position of the camming slot at that time.

It will be noted that each zero type arm 35 has a depending tail 78 which is engaged by the bail rod 25 when the machine is in its full cycle position.

Describing now the operation of the machine, during the first half of a machine cycle. the cam 18 causes the bail rod 25 to yieldably drive the various printing sections 16 clockwise from their home positions until arrested by set ones of the stop pins ll. However. in those orders to the left ofthe one representing the highermost significant digit to be printed. a suitable zero stop member (not shown) carried by the pin carriage l2 and disclosed in the above referred to U.S. Pat. No. 3,132,582, blocks the shoulders of the corresponding sections 16, thus holding such sectors (as repre sented by the three leftmost sectors in FIG. 3) in their home positions. Obviously, in those orders which represent zeros and which are located to the right of the one representing the highermost significant digit, the lowermost stop pins 1] will have been set to directly block the shoulders 15 ofthe corresponding sectors 16, preventing them from being moved out of their home positions. Also. at the start of its clockwise movement. the bail rod recedes from the tails 78 leaving the arms 35 held in their upper positions shown in FIG. 1

by the springs 41. Concurrently with such driving movement of the bail rod 25, the sensing slide 71 is yieldably advanced to the right by cable 72. The slide 71 will be allowed to move through the openings 42 in those sectors 16 which are located to the left of that sector 16 whic is being set to represent the highermost significant digit. Thus, the camming surface 76 of the slide 71 will cam the zero type arms 35 associated with such higher order sectors 16 into their ineffective positions (shown in FIG. 4) wherein the zero type 38 will be located beyond the print line 39 and out of the path of the printing platen 43.

Ultimately, the slide 71 will be blocked by the sector 16 which has been set to represent the highermost sig nificant digit, as exemplified by the fourth sector from the left in FIG. 3 and as seen in H0. 9. In those orders to the right of that containing the highermost significant digit, the zero type sectors 35 will be held in counterclockwise rocked positions relative to their associated main type sectors 16 as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, regardless of the digital positions to which those of sectors 16 have been advanced. Shortly thereafter, camming noses 70, FIG. 2, will cam the alignment bar 63 outwardly to engage in generally aligned ones of the notches 65 and 66 of sections and 36 to accurately center the type sectors 16 and those zero type arms which are in zero printing positions. As the bar 63 continues its outward movement it slightly flexes the type sections 30 and the sections 36 of those zero type arms 35 which are in zero printing position to accurately maintain all type characters at an even height and to react against the heavy printing pressure exerted by the printing platen 43. The cam 61 will now drive the platen 43 downwardly into printing contact with the paper 44 and aligned type characters. Thereafter, the slide 7[ will be freed to be returned by its spring I69 and the bail rod 25 will be returned clockwise to likewise return the sectors 16 to their home positions. Toward the end of its return motion, but after the cam ming portion 76 of slide 71 has moved to the left of the leftmost sector 16, the bail rod 25 engages the tails 78 to return the arms 35 to their raised positions if they have not already been returned by the spring tails 41.

Since the arms 35 can be positiely returned by the bail rod 25. the spring tails 41 need only be strong enough to hold the arms 35 in their upper positions and thus the arms 35 offer very little resistance to the camming movement of the slide 71.

It should be noted that the invention may be equally well embodied in association with print sectors of the type shown in the above referred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,113,7l9 and 3,132,582 wherein the type characters are not carried by radially yieldable sector sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODlFlED EMBODIMENT FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein each denominationally arranged main type carrier and its zero type carrier are both formed integrally in one plastic sector, i.e., 16a. In this case. parts broken away from the sector 1611 are similar to those found on sector 16 and the parts illustrated which are similar are identified by the same reference numerals. In lieu of a separate pivotal arm for supporting the zero type character 38 and section 36, the latter is formed integral with a flexible arm 80 which extends integrally from the main body portion of the sector 16. Thus. in those orders containing nonsignificant zeros, the sensing slide is adapted to cam against the upper edge 81 of the arm 80 and thereby flex the same to remove its type character 38 from the print line. Although the zero type character 38 will not follow an exactly accu rate path concentric about the shaft [7. it will be moved sufficiently out of the path of the printing platen.

l claim:

1. A control device for a data printer comprising a plurality of denominationally arranged type carrying devices each having a set of type characters thereon.

each of said type carrying devices comprising a main type carrying member and a supplemental type carrying member movable relative to said main type carrying member;

means for guiding said main type carrying type members and said supplemental type carrying members in respective paths past a printing line,

means for differentially setting said type carrying devices from initial positions to present different ones of said type characters to said printing line,

a sensing device movable across said type carrying devices,

means on each of said main type carrying devices being effective when a said type carrying device is moved from its initial position to arrest said sensing means,

means on said sensing device effective upon movement of said sensing device across any of said type carrying devices to move the respective supplemental type carrying members relative to the re spective main type carrying members to remove a type character thereon from said printing line, and a printing platen movable toward said type carrying devices to cause an imprint from the said type char acters at said printing line onto a paper.

2. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising means operable after said imprint to cause said differentially setting means to move said supplemental type carrying members to return said type characters thereon to said printing line.

3. A control device as defined in claim I wherein type characters only.

4. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising means causing said supplemental type carrying members to normally move together with said main type carrying members, and

wherein said means on said sensing means comprises a cam.

5. A control device for a data printer comprising a plurality of denominationally arranged type carrying devices.

each of said type carrying devices comprising a main type member having a set of type characters thereon and a zero type member movable relative thereto;

means pivotally supporting said members for independent movement about a common axis.

means for differentially setting said main type members from initial positions to present different ones of said type characters to a printing line.

said zero type members presenting zero type characters to said printing line when respective ones of said main type members are in said initial positions a sensing device movable across said main type members.

each otsaid main type members being effective when out of said initial position to arrest said sensing device and means on said sensing device effective upon movement of said sensing device across any of said main type members for moving the respective zero type members relative to their respective main type members to remove said zero type characters thereon from said printing line. and

a printing platen movable to engage said type carry ing devices to cause an imprint from the said type characters at said printing line onto a paper.

6. A control device as defined in claim 5 comprising spring means normally maintaining said zero type members in predetermined positions relative to respective ones of said main type members 7. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means on said sensing device comprises a cam engageable with each of said zero type members for camming lll 8 said zero type members away from said printing line.

8. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type members and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones of said type characters;

said sectors being yieldable radially relative to said axis, and

means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing radially outward yielding of said sections adjacent said printing line.

9. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type members and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones of said type characters;

said sections being yieldable radially relative to said axis.

a bar extending under said sections adjacent said printing line, and

means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing said bar to flex said sections radially outward towards said printing platen.

10. A control device as defined in claim 5 comprising means causing said means on said sensing device to move the respective zero type members away from said printing line prior to said movement of said printing platen.

11. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type characters and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones ofsaid type characters,

said sections being yieldable radially relative to said axis,

said sections having centering notches therein,

a bar extending across said sections adjacent said printing line, and

means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing said bar to engage in adjacent ones of said notches and to flex said sections radially outward toward said printing platen, 

1. A control device for a data printer comprising a plurality of denominationally arranged type carrying devices each having a set of type characters thereon, each of said type carrying devices comprising a main type carrying member and a supplemental type carrying member movable relative to said main type carrying member; means for guiding said main type carrying type members and said supplemental type carrying members in respective paths past a printing line, means for differentially setting said type carrying devices from initial positions to present different ones of said type characters to said printing line, a sensing device movable across said type carrying devices, means on each of said main type carrying devices being effective when on a said type carrying device is moved from its initial position to arrest said sensing means, means on said sending device effective upon movement of said sensing device across any of said type carrying devices to move the respective supplemental type carrying members relative to the respective main type carrying members to remove a type character thereon from said printing line, and a printing platen movable toward said type carrying devices to cause an imprint from the said type characters at said printing line onto a paper.
 2. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising means operable after said imprint to cause said differentially setting means to move said supplemental type carrying members to return said type characters thereon to said printing line.
 3. A control device as defined in claim in claim 1 wherein said supplemental type carrying members carry zero type characters only.
 4. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising means causing said supplemental type carrying members to normally move together with said main type carrying members, and wherein said means on said sensing means comprises a cam.
 5. A control device for a data printer comprising a plurality of denominationally arranged type carrying devices, each of said type carrying devices comprising a main type member having a set of type characters thereon and a zero type member movable relative thereto; means pivotally supporting said members for independent movement about a common axis, means for differentially setting said main type members from initial positions to present different ones of said type characters to a printing line, said zero type members presenting zero type characters to said printing line when respective ones of said main type members are in said initial positions, a sensing device movable across said main type members, each of said main type members being effective when out of said initial position to arrest said sensing device, and means on said sensing device effective upon movement of said sensing device across any of said main type members for moving the respective zero type members relative to their respective main type members to remove said zero type characters thereon from said printing line, and a printing platen movable to engage said type carrying devices to cause an imprint from the said type characters at said printing line onto a paper.
 6. A control device as defined in claim 5 comprising spring means normally maintaining said zero type members in predetermined positions relative to respective ones of said main type members.
 7. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means on said sensing device comprises a cam engageable with each of said zero type members for camming said zero type members away from said printing line.
 8. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type members and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones of said type characters; said sectors being yieldable radially relative to said axis, and means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing radially outward yielding of said sections adjacent said printing line.
 9. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type members and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones of said type characters; said sections being yieldable radially relative to said axis, a bar extending under said sections adjacent said printing line, and means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing said bar to flex said sections radially outward towards said printing platen.
 10. A control device as defined in claim 5 comprising means causing said means on said sensing device to move the respective zero type members away from said printing line prior to said movement of said printing platen.
 11. A control device as defined in claim 5 wherein said main type characters and said zero type members comprise sections carrying respective ones of said type characters, said sections being yieldable radially relative to said axis, said sections having centering notches therein, a bar extending across said sections adjacent said printing line, and means operable as an incident to said movement of said printing platen for causing said bar to engage in adjacent ones of said notches and to flex said sections radially outward toward said printing platen. 